10 Water Safety Tips: How To Prevent Drowning
Knowing the proper water safety tips can prevent drowning and save lives by lower your chances of water-related catastrophes. But, of course, we all want swimming to be fun and for all to enjoy. And that means obeying the fundamentals of water safety. So, regardless of age, practicing these tips should be at the top of everyone’s list, especially during the summer.
With These Water Safety Tips, You Can Have A Safe And Fun Experience
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second most common cause of death for children in the US under the age of 14. It is also the third most common factor in injury-related fatalities in children and teenagers aged 5 to 19. Of course, practicing sound safety tips wherever you are is essential, especially when swimming.
Sadly, this figure serves as a sobering reminder that water safety is essential, and should we all need to take it seriously. Below, you’ll discover water safety tips for everyone to practice. Moreover, they will assist you in understanding what you can do to lower the chance of water-related catastrophes.
Unfortunately, drowning can end a life swiftly and silently. Therefore, learning to be safe is paramount when in or around water. It takes about 20 seconds to sink into the water and minutes to drown. So, whether you swim in a pool, river, lake, pond, or ocean, these water safety tips can save a life.
1) Stay Focused And Avoid Distractions
Distractions such as cell phones, food, alcohol, or even light talk can be disastrous when you’re close to the water with your children. The best advice you can obtain on water safety is to eliminate distractions. Keep an eye on your kids and never lose sight of them anytime. Also, anytime they are near or in water, make sure they are always within arm’s reach of an adult.
If you or a loved one have an accident in a public pool and you believe it was due to negligence, Steve Bagen of the Florida personal injury firm, Bagen Law Accident Injury Lawyers, says to contact a local experienced premises liability lawyer who can help explain if you’re eligible for compensation.
2) Designate a “Water Watcher.” Water Safety Tips That Save Lives
Even with a lifeguard on duty, appoint a responsible adult to watch young children in the water. Take your child with you or have another adult take over your watch if you need to use the restroom or leave the area for a short time. Following essential water safety tips like this one can and does save lives.
If you can’t locate a water watcher, offer the children some fun out of the activities to do instead. Never let anyone swim alone; always stay close to children and young adults.
3) When Swimming In Open Water, Exercise Extra Caution
Compared to swimming in a pool, swimming in a lake, river, or ocean is significantly dangerous. A swimming pool doesn’t have currents, plants, rocks, or watercraft. Open water has a lot of difficulties that a swimming pool does not. Hence, it would be best if you always practiced extra caution.
Also, remember, when in doubt, get out. Typically, downing is the primary danger when swimming in open waters. And 79% of all drownings occur in open waters. In addition, it’s easier to become fatigued, experience cramping, and have strong currents or riptides sweep you away.
Since open bodies of water typically don’t’ have lifeguards watching, it’s far more dangerous. Following water safety tips like these can prevent disasters and keep everyone safe.
4) Avoid Alcohol
Avoid consuming alcohol before or while participating in water sports such as swimming or boating. Also, never drink alcohol when watching over youngsters. It’s one of the significant reasons behind pool drowning accidents. Alcohol affects decision-making, coordination, and balance.
If you must drink, limit the amount according to state laws. Remember, alcohol affects balance and judgment, so avoid drinking entirely. In addition, you can become seriously disoriented underwater if you drink. Therefore, it can hinder your ability to save yourself or someone else.
5) Take Drug Side Effects Into Account
Avoid swimming if you use medications that affect your balance or judgment. These adverse effects raise the danger of drowning. In addition, many drugs, including those prescribed for anxiety and other mental health issues, can have severe adverse effects.
6) Avoid Holding Your Breath Or Breathing Heavily
Allowing swimmers to hyperventilate or attempt to hold their breath for extended periods is not a good idea. They can lose consciousness as a result and drown. Typically called “shallow water blackout” or a “hypoxic blackout,” this can result in drowning.
7) Wear A Life Jacket – Common Sense Water Safety Tips
Of course, life jackets will lessen the risk of drowning for boaters of all ages and swimming abilities. Children should wear life jackets during activities in and near lakes and streams. Avoid using air-filled or foam toys as a substitute for proper safety measures. Better yet, a kid’s swim vest life jacket seems to be a shopper’s favorite and a great way to help protect your children. When it comes to water safety tips, this one is at the top of the list.
8) Create Barriers That Enclose The Entire Swimming Pool
Build and use a four-sided fence with self-closing and self-latching gates that completely enclose the pool and keep it separated from the house. Additionally, remove any items from the pool area that can attract kids to the water. More so, follow state guidelines for pool barriers. However, barriers are not the sole method to prevent pool drowning of young children and cannot replace adult supervision.
9) Enroll Your Child In Swimming Lessons
Teaching our children how to swim comes with many benefits. And they help prepare young swimmers to enjoy the water safely and confidently. More so, Multiple studies reveal many physical and neurological benefits of teaching children to swim. And doing so during their toddler years helps build confidence.
Children can learn critical water survival skills through swimming training, such as:
- Swimming back and forth
- Walking on water
- Getting into and out of a body of water
- Do at least 25 yards of swimming.
Parents can find a wealth of information regarding swimming classes from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
10) Teach Your Children About Water Safety
When you establish water safety guidelines, try to explain the importance of safety to your kids. For instance, talk to your kids about the necessity of life jackets and the perils of swimming in an open body of water, such as riptide, currents, and undertow.
Remember that drowning doesn’t always appear as it does on television. If you can’t find your child, you should always search the water first. Most drowning events are very silent and challenging to notice because many people, especially kids, don’t scream or make a lot of noise. However, drowning accidents are avoidable with precautions.
Did you know with these eight indoor activities for children, you can entertain them quickly and effectively? Unfortunately, keeping kids busy and swiftly engaged becomes a full-time job. And it becomes even more complicated when everyone’s stuck indoors.
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